Movies From the Hat V #11 – Catherine’s Pick – The Proposition (2005)

This is my 2960th Review

Thanks to Catherine of Thoughts All Sorts for this recommendation.

Here are her thoughts on the film.

Number of Times Seen – 1 (19 Mar 2017)

Brief Synopsis – An outlaw captured  in Australia is given a deal by the law;  he must kill his notorious older brother otherwise, they will hang his younger brother.

My Take on it – This is a film that I had never even heard of before it was recommended to me and just by seeing the premise, I had high hopes that it would be quite good.

Unfortunately, it’s paced way too slowly and although that is sometimes good with a Western, it wasn’t in this case.

Things feel too drawn out and I believe that had the pace been quickened a bit, it would have been even more enjoyable.

The cast is quite competent here, but I constantly had the feeling that Guy Pierce was terribly cast in the lead role in this film.

He was great in L.A. Confidential (1997) and in Memento (2000) as a sort of anti-hero who we can sympathize with, but here, he plays an extremely ruthless character and IMHO. it just doesn’t fit him well.

I also found it quite strange that this is perceived as a Western , yet takes place in the Outback of Australia.  I’m sure that there were Cowboys there, but it just seemed a bit strange to me.

This is quite a violent film, so it isn’t for those without a strong stomach.

All in all, some parts work better than others, but I thought this was a pretty average kinda Western.

Bottom Line – Interesting premise that just doesn’t work as well as I would have hoped. Cast is quite competent, but Pierce isn’t as good playing a ruthless character as he is as an anti-hero. The pace is too slow and I think had it moved a bit quicker, it would have been even more enjoyable.  Personally, found it strange having a Western that takes place in the Australian Outback.

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – One of the gunmen in the Burns’ fort at the beginning is named “Jack Bradshaw”. Although the movie’s plot was fictitious, there had been a real 19th century Australian “bushranger” (outlaw) by that name. (From IMDB)

Rating – BAFTA Worthy

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